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The Understudy (Upstairs, Downstairs)
Encyclopedia
The Understudy is the tenth episode of the fifth and final series of the period drama
Upstairs, Downstairs
. It first aired on 9 November 1975 on ITV
.
called And In My Lady's Chamber was broadcast. This was a spoof of Upstairs, Downstairs with Joan Sims
as Mrs Breeches and Jack Douglas
as Clodson, and the Bellamys became the Pellamys. Three weeks later, another Carry On Laughing episode used the same characters in the episode Who Needs Kitchener?, a spoof of the fourth series of Upstairs, Downstairs. After The Understudy had been filmed, the main cast of Upstairs, Downstairs filmed the Christmas
documentary Russell Harty Goes...Upstairs, Downstairs, which was aired on Boxing Day 1975.
and can not return as she has a bad fever. Georgina offers to cancel her sailing
weekend to act as host, and she persuades James to cancel his day of polo
to give her support.
On the evening of the dinner, Hudson collapses and Dr. Foley is sent for instantly. Dr. Foley confirms that Hudson had a mild heart attack
. A debate then starts downstairs as to who will take Hudson's place that evening as butler
, with Daisy heavily pushing for her husband Edward, but Frederick believing it should be himself. Upstairs, although James favours Frederick, Georgina and Richard go for Edward, who performs his duties as butler very well. However, he nearly makes one error when he forgets to decant
the claret
, but Frederick reminds him to do so.
Dr. Foley says that Hudson needs a couple of months to recoperate, and it is arranged for him to go and stay with Mr and Mrs. Tranter, a couple who live down on the Southwold
estate. Once again, they argue upstairs as to who should act as butler while Hudson is away. James favours Frederick, but Richard, Georgina and Virginia (via the telephone) all favour Edward, and he is chosen. Before he goes, Hudson tells Mrs. Bridges that he has left everything he has to her should he die, and Mrs. Bridges says she has done the same for him. As he leaves, Mrs Bridges cries.
Period piece
-Setting:In the performing arts, a period piece is a work set in a particular era. This informal term covers all countries, all periods and all genres...
Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs is a British drama television series originally produced by London Weekend Television and revived by the BBC. It ran on ITV in 68 episodes divided into five series from 1971 to 1975, and a sixth series shown on the BBC on three consecutive nights, 26–28 December 2010.Set in a...
. It first aired on 9 November 1975 on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
.
Background
The Understudy was recorded in the studio on 10 and 11 July 1975. Shortly before this episode aired, an episode of Carry On LaughingCarry On Laughing
Carry on Laughing is a British television comedy series produced in 1975 for ATV. Based on the Carry On films, it was an attempt to address the films' declining cinema attendance by transferring the franchise to television...
called And In My Lady's Chamber was broadcast. This was a spoof of Upstairs, Downstairs with Joan Sims
Joan Sims
Joan Sims was an English actress best remembered for her roles in the Carry On films, and latterly for playing Madge Hardcastle in As Time Goes By.-Early life:...
as Mrs Breeches and Jack Douglas
Jack Douglas (actor)
Jack Douglas, born John Roberton was an English actor most famous for his roles in the Carry On films.- Career :...
as Clodson, and the Bellamys became the Pellamys. Three weeks later, another Carry On Laughing episode used the same characters in the episode Who Needs Kitchener?, a spoof of the fourth series of Upstairs, Downstairs. After The Understudy had been filmed, the main cast of Upstairs, Downstairs filmed the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
documentary Russell Harty Goes...Upstairs, Downstairs, which was aired on Boxing Day 1975.
Cast
- Gordon JacksonGordon Jackson (actor)Gordon Cameron Jackson, OBE was a Scottish Emmy Award-winning actor best remembered for his roles as the butler Angus Hudson in Upstairs, Downstairs and George Cowley, the head of CI5, in The Professionals....
- HudsonAngus HudsonAngus Hudson was a fictional character in the ITV drama Upstairs, Downstairs, portrayed by actor Gordon Jackson from 1971 until 1975.-Biography:... - David LangtonDavid LangtonDavid Muir Langton was a British actor who is best remembered for playing Richard Bellamy in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs.-Early years:...
- Richard Bellamy - Simon WilliamsSimon Williams (actor)Simon Williams is an English actor known for playing James Bellamy in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs. Frequently playing upper-class roles, he is also known for playing Dr...
- James BellamyJames BellamyMajor The Honourable James Rupert Bellamy MC is a fictional character in the ITV period drama Upstairs, Downstairs, that was originally broadcast for five series from 1971 to 1975... - Lesley-Anne DownLesley-Anne DownLesley-Anne Down is a British film and television actress, former model and singer.Down achieved fame as Georgina Worsley in the ITV drama series Upstairs, Downstairs...
- Georgina Worsley - Jean MarshJean MarshJean Lyndsey Torren Marsh is an English actress, occasional screenwriter, and co-creator of the television series Upstairs, Downstairs and The House of Eliott....
- Rose - Angela BaddeleyAngela BaddeleyAngela Baddeley, CBE , born Madeline Angela Clinton-Baddeley, was an English actress best remembered for her role as Mrs Bridges in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs...
- Mrs Bridges - Christopher BeenyChristopher BeenyBorn in London, Beeny began his career at the age of six when he danced for the ' Ballet Rambert. He spent several years at the ' Arts Educational School before later progressing to 'RADA.His first screen role was in the 1952 film The Long Memory...
- Edward - Gareth HuntGareth HuntAlan Leonard Hunt was an English actor, known as Gareth Hunt, best remembered for playing the footman Frederick Norton in Upstairs, Downstairs and Mike Gambit in The New Avengers.-Early life:...
- Frederick - Jenny TomasinJenny TomasinJenny Tomasin is an English actress best known for her roles in Upstairs, Downstairs and Emmerdale.-Career:Tomasin became well known in the early 1970s when she joined the cast of Upstairs, Downstairs as kitchen maid Ruby. She stayed with the series until the end in 1975, appearing in 41 episodes...
- Ruby - Jacqueline TongJacqueline TongJacqueline Tong is an English actress who is best known for playing Daisy Barnes in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs from 1973 to 1975. In 1975, she was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in the Primetime Emmy Awards.-Early life:Tong was born in Bristol,...
- Daisy - Anthony Woodruff - Dr. Foley
- Andre Charisse - M. Fleuriau
- Barbara Bolton - Madamae Fleuriau
- Natalie Caron - Simone Fleauriau
- Philip Webb - Lord Swanbourne
- Lorna Kilner - Lady Swanbourne
- Roy Knight - Ambulance Man
- David Nicholl - Ambulance Man
Plot
It is September 1926 and Richard is having the French Ambassador, M. Fleariau, and his wife and daughter to dinner. Virginia is in ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and can not return as she has a bad fever. Georgina offers to cancel her sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
weekend to act as host, and she persuades James to cancel his day of polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
to give her support.
On the evening of the dinner, Hudson collapses and Dr. Foley is sent for instantly. Dr. Foley confirms that Hudson had a mild heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. A debate then starts downstairs as to who will take Hudson's place that evening as butler
Butler
A butler is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Some also have charge of the entire parlour floor, and housekeepers caring for the entire house and its...
, with Daisy heavily pushing for her husband Edward, but Frederick believing it should be himself. Upstairs, although James favours Frederick, Georgina and Richard go for Edward, who performs his duties as butler very well. However, he nearly makes one error when he forgets to decant
Decanter
A decanter is a vessel that is used to hold the decantation of a liquid which may contain sediment. Decanters are normally used as serving vessels for wine. Decanters vary in shape and design. They are usually made of an inert material and will hold at least one standard bottle of wine...
the claret
Claret
Claret is a name primarily used in British English for red wine from the Bordeaux region of France.-Usage:Claret derives from the French clairet, a now uncommon dark rosé and the most common wine exported from Bordeaux until the 18th century...
, but Frederick reminds him to do so.
Dr. Foley says that Hudson needs a couple of months to recoperate, and it is arranged for him to go and stay with Mr and Mrs. Tranter, a couple who live down on the Southwold
Southwold
Southwold is a town on the North Sea coast, in the Waveney district of the English county of Suffolk. It is located on the North Sea coast at the mouth of the River Blyth within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The town is around south of Lowestoft and north-east...
estate. Once again, they argue upstairs as to who should act as butler while Hudson is away. James favours Frederick, but Richard, Georgina and Virginia (via the telephone) all favour Edward, and he is chosen. Before he goes, Hudson tells Mrs. Bridges that he has left everything he has to her should he die, and Mrs. Bridges says she has done the same for him. As he leaves, Mrs Bridges cries.